Method and apparatus for measuring radiation in computer-assisted tomography and radiographic applications

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for determining the intensity of radiation passing through an object as a set of planar beams from a radiation source is disclosed. The radiographic apparatus includes a detector array of adjoining scintillators having wall linings suitable for absorbing radiation, thereby functioning as self-colliminating detectors. The apparatus is also capable of counting the number of individual photons of primary radiation passing through an object along each path from a radiation source operating at the very high count rates used in computer-assisted tomography applications.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 879,439, filed Feb. 21, 1978now U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,895.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for,examining an object by means of penetrating radiation, such as X-rays orgamma-rays.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Considerable effort has been expended in recent years to develop amethod and apparatus for accurately examining the detailed structure ofthe interior of a body by penetrating radiation which utilize principlesof tomographic reconstruction. These efforts have been directed towardsolving the problem of obscured details found in conventional X-ray orgamma-ray radiographic imaging. Such obscuring of details was caused bythe superimposition of the other structural details of the body throughwhich the radiation passed prior to detection.

The more recent developments are based upon the theoretical principlesof computer-assisted tomography which have been recently summarized in apaper entitled "Principles of Computer Assisted Tomography (CAT) inRadiographic and Radioisotopic Imaging" by Rodney A. Brooks and GiovanniDi Chiro, published in Vol. 21, No. 5 at pp. 689-732 of PHYS. MED. BIOL.(1976) Specific methods and apparatus developed to employ theseprinciples for medical applications are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos.3,778,614; 3,866,047; 3,944,833; and 3,924,131. These patents disclose amethod of exposing a planar slice of a body to penetrating radiationalong a plurality of paths at different mean angular positions anddetecting the radiation emerging from the body to estimate the radiationabsorbed by the body along each path. The mean angular positions of eachof the plurality of paths are so arranged so that such paths intersectevery element of a two-dimensional array of elements (matrix) used todelineate the planar slice of the body.

The data representative of the radiation absorbed along each of thepaths is then used to estimate the absorption coefficients of eachelement of the matrix by employing either iterative reconstructiontechniques, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,614; analyticreconstruction techniques (convolution function), as exemplified by U.S.Pat. No. 3,924,129, and combination analytic/iterative techniques, asexemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,129.

Various apparatus have also been developed to carry out thecomputer-assisted tomographic methods described above. In U.S. Pat. No.3,924,131 a radiation source and a detector are mounted on a framefacing each other across an aperture in which the body is positioned sothat the source and detector are moved together relative to thestationary body between different lateral positions so that thecollimated radiation beam is scanned laterally to form a plurality ofpaths and then the frame rotated to other angular positions whereadditional lateral scanning is effected. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,866,047 and3,944,833 a source transmitting a collimated fan beam of radiationtoward the object and a bank of detectors positioned opposite the sourceare mounted on a turntable for orbiting the source and bank of detectorsrelative to the body. Other scanners have been developed which utilize astationary circular array of detectors and the rotation of a singlesource along a circular path just within the circular array ofdetectors. All of these apparatus, however, involve movement of thesource or detectors, or both, relative to the body being examined duringa scan of a slice of the body. Such movement also limits the speeds atwhich the scanning can be accomplished. For example, movement makes itdifficult to exactly determine the coordinate position of the ray paths,determine the exact position of the moving source or detector due toaberrations in the position of the source or detectors caused by theinherent variable movement of heavy mechanical devices when they are inmotion, and high voltage connection problems caused by rotation of thesource and/or detectors. Each of these problems reduce the accuracy ofthe data obtained for use in determining the absorption coefficients ofthe matrix elements.

Previous examining apparatus has also attempted to represent theradiation intensity detected by generating output signals representativeof the total electrical charge generated by the detection system duringan exposure, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,778,614; 3,914,131;3,866,047, and 3,956,633. Use of such current integration techniques toobtain output signals require high dosage levels in order for theintensity level emerging from the body to be detectable over thesystem's noise. The current integrating apparatus also inducesmeasurement errors in the output signal. Moreover, the accuracy of theoutput signal is further degraded since the current integrated signalfails to account for statistical variations in the energy content of thephotons detected. As a result such measurements cannot be used inapplications to determine the exact number of photons detected.

Previous examining apparatus employing multiple detectors has alsoattempted to segregate the paths of radiation passing through the bodyto the detectors by using relatively bulky mechanical collimators, asexemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,047. Such collimators prohibit theplacement of detectors in high-density detector arrays, therebyrequiring a longer exposure time or an increase in the number of scansin order to obtain sufficient information for an adequatereconstruction.

Other apparatus and methods employed in the examination of a body usingreconstructive tomography are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,778,614;3,866,047; 3,944,833; 3,867,634; 3,919,552; 3,924,131; 3,881,110;3,965,357; 3,936,636; 3,924,129; 3,932,757; 3,952,201; 3,973,128;3,946,234; and 3,956,633.

Finally, recent scientific experiments have been conducted to evaluatethe feasibility of using plastic scintillators for low energy, high ratephoton detection, as shown by an article entitled "Comparative Studieson Plastic Scintillators--Applications to Low Energy High Rate PhotonDetection" by L. A. Eriksson, C. M. Tsai, Z. H. Cho, and C. R. Hurlbut,published at pp. 373-376 in Vol. 122 of NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS(1974). The experiments discussed in the above-referenced article,however, were conducted with only monoenergatic radiation. Furthermore,so far as is known, there has been no previous use of such high-speedplastic scintillators in apparatus for tomographic examination of anobject by means of penetrating radiation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention provides a new and improved method of,and apparatus for, examining at least part of an object usingpenetrating radiation, such as X-rays or gamma rays, which provides moreaccurate information for a given radiation intensity and decreases thetime necessary to conduct the examination. The novel method comprisestransmitting photons of penetrating radiation toward a planar section ofthe object under examination wherein a portion of the photonstransmitted pass through the planar section of the object as photonsalong a plurality of paths, detecting the plurality of photons passingthrough the object along each of the plurality of paths, counting thenumber of photons detected, and generating output signals representativeof the number of photons detected.

The novel apparatus includes a radiation source for transmitting photonsof penetrating radiation through a planar section of the object along aplurality of paths and a detector system disposed on the opposite sideof the object from the source for detecting the plurality of individualphotons emerging from the object along the plurality of paths. Thedetector system also generates a plurality of detector signalsrepresentative of the radiation detected.

Preferably, the new and improved apparatus includes a plurality ofradiation sources angularly disposed at intervals about the object to beexamined for transmitting photons of penetrating radiation through theplanar section of the object and a plurality of detector systemsdisposed at intervals about the planar section of the object fordetecting the plurality of photons transmitted by the sources. Each ofthe detector systems is disposed directly opposite one of the sourcesfor individually detecting the plurality of photons in each of the setof rays being transmitted from the source opposite it.

Also, each detecting system is preferably self-collimating so that itdetects only photons whose paths are within a small angular deviationfrom a path which is perpendicular to its detecting surface. Theself-collimating detecting system is disposed so that the paths of theplurality of penetrating rays photons passing through the object fromthe source opposite it are substantially perpendicular to said detectingsurface.

The invention also provides a novel method of detecting the intensity ofpenetrating radiation passing through an object along a plurality ofpaths from a radiation source which comprises detecting individualpenetrating ray photons passing through the object along one of theplurality of paths, converting each individual penetrating ray photondetected into a plurality of light photons within a suitable timeinterval after detection such that substantially all light photonsassociated with each of the penetrating ray photons detected aregenerated within different time intervals, detecting the plurality oflight photons generated by the conversion of each of the penetrating rayphotons, generating a primary signal for each plurality of light photonsdetected, counting the number of primary signals generated, andgenerating an output signal representative of the number of primarysignals generated. The resulting output signal is representative of theintensity of the penetrating radiation which passed through the objectalong one of the plurality of paths.

It also provides for novel apparatus for detecting the intensity of thepenetrating radiation passing through an object along a plurality ofpaths from a radiation source. Such apparatus includes a scintillatorwhich detects the plurality of ray photons passing through the objectalong one of the plurality of paths. This scintillator also convertseach of the ray photons detected into a distributed bundle of lightphotons within a suitable time interval after detection such that asubstantial portion of the light photons associated with each detectedpenetrating ray photon are generated within different time intervals. Aphotomultiplier optically coupled to the scintillator detects the bundleof light photons associated with each penetrating ray photon detectedand thereafter generates a signal for each bundle of light photonsassociated with the detection of a penetrating ray photon. A countercounts the signals generated by the photomultiplier and generates anoutput signal representative of the number of penetrating ray photonsdetected by the scintillator.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simpler and faster methodof, and apparatus for, measuring small differences in the absorptioncoefficient, and spatial locations of such differences, in a planarslice of a body without an increase in the amount of radiation used toscan the object.

Another object is to provide a method of, and an apparatus for, countingthe individual photons of radiation emerging from a body along a path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagrammatic representation of a suitablescanning apparatus for carrying out the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified diagrammatic representation of a portion of thescanning apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the part of the apparatus of thepresent invention for detecting penetrating radiation and processing theoutput signals representative of the radiation detected;

FIG. 4 is a graphical comparison of materials useful in constructing thescintillator shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the interaction ofpenetrating rays with the scintillator shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the process steps performed by thecomputer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7a is a front elevation view of a suitable embodiment of thescanning apparatus shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7b is a side section view of the scanning apparatus of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8a is a side elevation view of a portion of one type of detectingapparatus to be mounted on the scanning apparatus shown in FIG. 7a; and

FIG. 8b is a front elevation view of the portion of one type ofdetecting apparatus shown in FIG. 8a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawings (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4), a scanning apparatus A has aplurality of radiation sources S mounted on suitable mounting apparatusA at intervals about the object O to be examined. Preferably, 2N+1sources are disposed about the object, where N is any integer. FIG. 1illustrates one embodiment of such examining apparatus which utilizes 5sources. Each of the sources S are disposed in the same plane in orderthat each source S can transmit a planar swath of penetrating radiation,such as X-rays or gamma rays, through a planar section of the object Oto obtain a scan of the object. The penetrating radiation forming theswath of radiation may be described as a plurality of photons travelingalong each path of a plurality of paths.

A portion of the penetrating radiation transmitted, hereinafterdescribed as secondary photons, are either absorbed by the object ordeflected from the original paths to travel in any direction from thepoint of deflection along secondary paths S. The remaining portion ofthe photons, hereinafter described as primary photons, originallytransmitted by the source along a given path pass through the objectwithout being deflected or absorbed by the object and continue alongtheir original line of travel or path P to one of a plurality ofdetectors D arranged in an array R of detectors. The photons deflectedto become secondary photons have less energy after deflection than thatof the primary photons. The array R of detectors D is disposed to detectprimary photons emerging from the object from the source S directlyopposite the array R.

Each detector D of the array R is self-collimating such that it detectsonly photons of penetrating radiation which have paths which aresubstantially perpendicular to the surface of the detector D facingtoward the source S opposite it. Hence, substantially all of the photonsdetected by each of the detectors D in any array R are primary photonswhich have traveled from the source S opposite it through the object Oalong its original ray path P.

Each detector D detects individual photons of radiation during the timeinterval the source opposite it is on and generates an output signalwhich is representative of the total number of photons detected. Thisoutput signal, in turn, may be used to obtain a signal representative ofthe radiation absorption which has occured along the original path Pbetween the source S and the detector D opposite it when the initialintensity of the penetrating radiation from the source S is known.

Each of the detectors D in each array R is positioned so that thedetecting surface of the detector is substantially perpendicular to oneof the original ray paths P from the source S through the object O tothe array R. The arrays R are also mounted on a suitable mountingapparatus M (FIGS. 7a & 7b) in order to prevent any relative movementbetween the sources and detectors and between the object and either thesources or detectors during a scan of the object.

During a scan, a control circuit 2 (FIG. 2) controls the sequence andtime duration of the transmissions from each of the sources S.Preferably, the control circuit sequentially pulses the sources on in apredetermined manner for a given time period, 100 milliseconds, forexample. During the time a given source is on, the detectors D (FIG. 3)in the array A opposite it are also activated by the control circuit.The detectors D generate output signals in response to the radiationdetected by each and these signals are fed to a temporary storage unitor fast memory buffer B for temporary storage. After the termination oftransmission from a given source S, the output signals in the buffer Bare fed to a computer or microprocessor C for initial error correctionsand storage.

If desired for the particular type of examination, after transmittingradiation from each of the sources S, the scanning apparatus A may berotated so that each of the sources can transmit radiation through thesame planar section from other angular positions and thereby obtainadditional information.

Subsequently, the mounting apparatus M can be inclined so that exposuresof other planar sections can be obtained and output signalsrepresentative of such planar sections fed to the computer C. The outputsignals processed and stored within the computer for each planar sectioncan then be evaluated to obtain digital signals representative of thecoefficient of radiation absorption of different elements of the object.These digital signals can then be converted by a digital-to-analogconverter T to analog signals useable by a display apparatus forvisually displaying the relative absorptions of various portions of theobject.

It has been found that the signals generated using the apparatus A ofthe present invention provide more useable information content and moreaccurate information per incident photon than prior examining apparatusregarding the radiation absorption characteristics of volume elements ofan object. Furthermore, accurate information content for areas as smallas one millimeter may be obtained.

The present invention is adaptable for use in such medical applicationsas distinguishing between tumors and normal tissue. It is also adaptablefor use in many industrial applications, such as distinguishing betweendifferent layers of distinct materials within an enclosed structure.

I. SOURCE

Considering the apparatus of this invention in more detail, the source S(FIG. 2) may be a point source 4 situated in a source housing 6 having asuitable aperture through which the radiation is emitted. A fancollimator of conventional design may be disposed in front of theaperture to collimate the radiation to form a fan beam. Preferably, abaffled slot collimator 7 is used to form a fan beam with negligiblepenumbra. The construction of a baffled slot collimator is known topersons skilled in the art of nuclear physics. A suitable filter 8 maybe used in connection with point sources emitting photons of varyingenergy content to filter out low-energy radiation which may causesurface burns to human or animal tissue.

The point source 4 may be an isotopic radioactive source, such as AM²⁴¹or IN¹⁹², which emits gamma rays, or a X-ray tube which emits variableenergy X-rays. In the examination of inanimate objects, such as inindustrial applications, isotopic radioactive sources are very useful,although their maximum intensity per unit is much less than X-raystubes, since the exposure time can be relatively long in comparison withthe short exposure times required for medical applications. Furthermore,such sources require no external power and emit photons of constantenergy. The use of such monoenergetic photons are advantageous in thatthe problem of "beam hardening" associated with the broad energyspectrum of X-rays photons emitted by a X-ray tube is eliminated.

For medical applications, the source S is preferably a low intensityhigh-voltage X-ray tube. Low intensity X-ray tubes are preferable toisotopic radioactive sources for medical applications since theintensity of the isotopic source is insufficient in most cases toprovide the short-term radiation dosage required for medicalapplications. Also, using several low intensity X-ray tubes arepreferable to using one high intensity X-ray tube since such tubes havea longer useful life and require less maintenance. A suitable X-ray tubeis a 40-150 KV variable intensity vacuum discharge X-ray tubemanufactured by Amperex Corporation which has been modified so that itcan be pulsed on for a short time interval, such as between 1microsecond and 100 milliseconds. It should be understood, however, thatother X-ray tubes and pulse intervals may be used.

II. DETECTOR

Each of the detectors D comprising the detector array R detectspenetrating ray photons whose paths are substantially perpendicular tothe surface of the detector. Each detector is the array R, in turn, ismounted in the detector array such that the detecting surface issubstantially perpendicular to the line of travel P between the detectorand the source S located directly opposite the detector such thatsubstantially all the photons detected are primary photons which havetraveled from the source opposite the detector D.

Each detector D includes a high-speed scintillator 10 (FIG. 3) with veryfast decay times which converts a detected photon into a plurality oflight photons within an interaction time interval or decay time ofsufficiently short time duration such that the scintillator converts asubstantial portion of the energy of the penetrating ray photon detectedinto light photons before the generation of light photons by asubsequently detected penetrating ray photon. It has been found that amaterial commonly described as scintillating plastic, manufactured byNuclear Enterprises of San Carlos, Calif., as NE102A, NE106, NE111, andNE140 has such a sufficiently short decay time. The decay timedistribution function of scintillating plastic designated as NE102A isshown as curve 12 in FIG. 4. Alternately, the scintillator may be madefrom stilbene, silicon, or other suitable materials having the requisiteshort decay time.

The advantages resulting from the use of such a material is easily shownby comparing the decay distribution function 12 of the scintillatingplastic to the decay distribution function 14 of sodium iodide (NaI)crystals. Although sodium iodide crystals have been used in the past asscintillators for detecting penetrating radiation, such crystals haveproved to be too slow to permit individual photon counting of X-raysphotons at the fast counting rates required for certain applications,such as medical applications. Further NaI crystals have been used inconjunction with current integration apparatus which measures the totalcharge during each exposure shot. This total charge was used todetermine the total energy of the X-rays received during an exposure,which in turn, was used to estimate a certain number of X-rays. Theadvantages of photon counting over current integration will be discussedin detail hereinafter. The advantages of using such short decay timescintillators are especially pronounced in the development of X-rayexamining apparatus for use in medical applications where reductions indosage are considered extremely beneficial.

It should also be noted that each scintillator 10 detects both primaryphotons and secondary photons as long as the photons are within a smallangular deviation from the line of travel perpendicular to the detectingsurface of the scintillator. Since the secondary photons have lessenergy than the primary photons, the number of light photons generatedby each of the secondary photons is less than the number generated byeach of the primary photons.

Due to the rapid decay time of such fast scintillating material, the rayphotons detected by the scintillator within a given exposure will eachgenerate a bundle of light photons. These bundles of light are thenoptically coupled to a photomultiplier 18 such that the bundles of lightstrike the photomultiplier in rapid succession. The photomultiplier 17,in turn, generates an electrical signal having an intensity proportionalto the intensity of the light photons detected. Hence, thephotomultiplier generates a signal of varying magnitude which has peaksassociated with the bundles of light photons.

The signal from the photomultiplier 17 is fed to a discriminator 48which electronically measures the magnitude of the electrical impulsesfrom the photomultiplier and generates output pulses when the intensityof the input pulses are above a threshold level. The discriminator iscalibrated prior to actual use to determine the appropriate thresholdlevel for the particular source energy spectrum so that thediscriminator 48 detects only signal magnitudes above magnitudesassociated with secondary photons and/or noise. Preferably, thediscriminator includes a pre-stage amplifier to facilitate pulserecognition. Thus, the discriminator 48 generates output pulses for eachof the primary photons detected and transmits these pulses to a scaler50 which counts the output pulses to determine the number of primaryphotons which interacted with the scintillator 10 during a givenexposure shot. The scaler, however, only counts pulses after receiving asignal from the control circuit 2, which is delayed by delay circuit 15for a time determined by the time period between source pulses. Thescaler, in turn, transmits a digital signal representative of the numberof primary photons detected to the memory buffer B where the signal istemporarily stored for later transmission to the computer C. It will beappreciated that similar digital signals are transmitted to the fastmemory buffer B from other detectors D forming the detector array Rsituated opposite the transmitting source.

There are numerous advantages of using photon counting methods andapparatus rather than current integration methods in examining an objectwith penetrating radiation whether the object is a animal or an inertindustrial product. First, the photon-counting apparatus istheoretically capable of determining the exact number of primary photonsdetected. Moreover output signals generated by photon counting give moreuseable signal above the noise of the system for a given intensity;i.e., more information content. Noise other than sampling error isgenerated by a variety of phenomena, e.g., detector noise, thermalnoise, noise due to motion, and noise from electronic equipment. Suchnoise generates extra current in current integration systems due to thelong sampling time of approximately 10⁻² seconds. Most of thiscurrent-producing noise is eliminated in photon counting due to theshort sampling time such systems are capable of employing, 10⁻⁸ seconds,for example. It should be noted that the current integration apparatusitself also generates noise which affects the output signal.

Lastly, many applications require the use of X-ray tubes which producesa distributed energy spectrum of photons. Current integration systemsattempt to measure the total energy of the X-rays received during anexposure or sampling interval. This total energy is then used toestimate a certain number of X-rays detected. Due to the variations inthe accuracy of this estimate, the accuracy of the current integrationsystem is degraded.

It should be understood that the method and apparatus for photoncounting heretofore described may be used in various methods andapparatus for examining an object. For example it may be used with theexamining apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,778,614; 3,944,833;and 3,924,131.

Preferably, the scintillators 10 of each Detector D are self-collimatingscintillators which detect only penetrating ray photons whose paths arewithin a small angular deviation from a line of travel which isperpendicular to the scintillator's detecting surface. It has been foundthat scintillating plastic which has been cut to a particular geometricconfiguration and has had several of its exterior surfaces coated withsuitable material to optically decouple each scintillator from otherscintillators located adjacent thereto in the detector array R areself-collimating.

A suitable self-collimating scintillator (FIG. 5) includes a block 16 ofscintillating plastic material having a detecting surface 16a ofsuitable height and a width which is dependent upon the distance oftravel between the detector and the source S opposite the detector. Fora distance of travel of approximately 180 centimeters, a suitable widthis 4 millimeters. The depth of the scintillating block must be ofsufficient length to allow penetrating ray photons whose paths arewithin a small angular deviation from a line perpendicular to thedetecting surface to travel a sufficient distance within the block 16 tointeract, scintillate, and convert a substantial amount of the energy ofthe ray photon to light photons.

The block 16 has lateral surfaces 16b which face adjacent blocks 16 anda back surface 16c optically coupled to a conventional photomultiplier17. The photomultiplier has a photocathode 18 which initiates anavalanche of electrons when it is hit by a light photon passing throughthe back surface 16c from the scintillator 10.

The process of detection of penetrating ray photons by the scintillatingplastic and the subsequent conversion of the energy into light photonsis hereinafter illustrated by way of example. A penetrating ray photonhaving a path 19 which is perpendicular to the detecting surface 16aenters the scintillating plastic through the detecting surface andtravels to a point 20 before the X-ray sufficiently excites thescintillating plastic to generate a distributed bundle of light photons.The various light photons generated then travel along various paths,such as paths 22 and 24 until they reach points on the back surface 16cand lateral surface 16b, respectively. The light photon along path 22passes through the back surface and strikes the photocathode 18 ofphotomultiplier 17. The light photon along path 24 is reflected from thewall at a point 25 along path 26 along which the photon travels until ithits the photocathode 18.

Another photon traveling along a path 28 at a small angular deviationfrom a line perpendicular to the detecting surface 16a will travel to apoint 30 before its energy begins to be converted into light photons.The various light photons generated will then travel along variouspaths, such as path 32. A photon traveling along a path 34 having agreater angular deviation from the line perpendicular to the detectingsurface 16a, however, will not travel a sufficient distance by the timeit reaches the lateral wall 16b at the point 36 to scintillate;consequently, penetrating ray photons at such an angle will not bedetected by the scintillating block 16.

An absorption lining 38 is disposed between the lateral surfaces 16b ofadjacent blocks 16 of scintillating plastic. A suitable lining is apiece of lead foil having a thickness of less than 1 millimeter. Thelining 38 prevent penetrating ray photons, such as photons travelingalong path 34 which do not interact with the scintillating block 16,from entering adjacent blocks 16 and generating light photons therein.In summary, the lining 34 decouples adjacent scintillators so thatsubstantially all the secondary radiation entering the scintillator 10is not detected by the detectors D and, therefore, does not induceerrors as to the output signals from the detectors D as to the number ofphotons passing through the object along a given path.

Preferably, narrow layers 40 and 42 of reflecting material, such asaluminum, are positioned between the absorption lining 38 and thelateral surfaces 16c of the adjacent scintillating blocks 16 so thateach scintillating block also collimates the light photons generated bythe penetrating ray photons. For example, a portion of the light photonsgenerated by the ray photon traveling along path 28 continue along path32 from the point 30 to a point 44. At this point, a substantial portionof the light photons are reflected due to the differences in refractioncoefficients of the scintillating block 16 and other materials next toit. The remaining portion of the light photons, however, would continuealong path 32 without the presence of the reflecting material 42, whichreflects a high percentage of the remaining portion of the lightphotons. Hence, essentially all light photons generated by the photonwhich are traveling along path 22 are reflected at the point 44 totravel along a path 46 until the light photons strike the cathode 18 ofthe photomultiplier 17 optically coupled to the scintillator. The use ofa scintillator which self-collimates the generated light photons alsopermits the use of a photomultiplier having a recessed cathode. Suchphotomultipliers are less expensive and, consequently, the cost of adetector D can be reduced accordingly.

It should be noted that materials other than scintillating plastic maybe used to construct a self-collimating scintillator. The geometricdimension of block of such other material may, of course, vary fromthose described above for scintillating plastic.

III. DETECTOR ARRAY

Detectors D which are self-collimating as discussed hereinabove may bearranged in the detector array R so that the entire array R isself-collimating. To construct the self-collimating array, each of thedetectors D in each array R is positioned so that the detecting surfaceof each detector D is substantially perpendicular to one of the originalray paths P traveled by primary rays from the source S through theobject O to the array R. Hence, the shape of the detector array R isdependent upon the orientation of the sources S relative to each otherand to the object O and the pattern made by the paths P of primaryphotons passing through the object O. For example, if the ray paths froma source S are parallel, the scintillators 10 of the detectors D wouldbe grouped such that the detecting surfaces 16a of the scintillators 10would form a flat plane perpendicular to the parallel ray paths from thesource S.

Preferably, 2n+1 sources S (FIG. 2) are mounted at fixed intervals aboutthe object on a mounting apparatus M to be described in more detailhereinafter. Each of the sources S, in turn, emit planar swaths ofradiation which are fan shaped so that a fewer number of sources S arerequired to obtain accurate information from a scan of the object O. Forsuch a source, a suitable number of detectors D would be positioned intoan array such that the detecting surfaces 16a of the scintillators 10would form a curvilinear surface having a curvature determined by thelocus of an arc 52. The arc 52, in turn, has as its center the pointsource 4 and has an arc length determined by the angle 54 defining theoutermost paths in the fan-shaped set of primary ray paths P and thedistance from the point source 4 to the detector array R.

In one suitable embodiment (FIGS. 7a and 7b), the detectors D in thearray R are mounted in a container 56 having a side 56a facing thesource S opposite it which is transparent to penetrating rays. Thecontainer 56 is mounted to the mounting apparatus M in a manner to bedescribed in more detail hereinafter such that the detecting surfaces16a of the scintillators 10 in the array R form the curvilinear surfacealong arc 52 described hereinabove. It should be understood that othercontainers 56 containing detector arrays R are also mounted on themounting apparatus M opposite each of the sources S mounted thereon.

Preferably, the detectors D mounted in each of the arrays R have thescintillators 10 so configured such that the photomultiplier tubes 17associated with adjacent scintillators 10 can be positioned in differentplanes. This permits the packing density of the detectors 10 in thearray R to be increased since the photomultiplier tubes have a greaterwidth than that commonly used for the scintillators 10. In one suitableconfiguration (FIGS. 8a and 8b) one extension of an L-shaped piece oflucite or other material suitable for use as a light conduit can beattached by conventional means to the back surface 16c of thescintillating plastic 16 so that the light photons generated by theinteraction of the penetrating ray photons with the scintillatingplastic pass through the back surface 16c of the scintillating plastic16 into the material 57 instead of directly to the photocathode of aphotomultiplier tube 17. Such material 57 has the right angle portion ofthe L-shaped material cut away to form a reflecting surface 57a whichreflects the light photons from the plane in which the scintillatingplastic 16 is located either upward or downward along the otherextension of the material 57 into the photocathode of thephotomultiplier tube 17.

Alternately, scintillating plastic 16 from which the scintillator 10 maybe formed can be cut to the configuration shown for the lightcollimating material 57. Such a unitary piece of scintillating plastic16 both collimates the light photons generated in the scintillatingplastic and reflects the collimated light photons either upward ordownward into a photomultiplier tube 17 located in a different planefrom that in which the scintillators 10 are located.

It has been found that self-collimating scintillators can be packedimmediately adjacent each other using the packing configurationdescribed hereinabove. By placing a detector having a straight block ofmaterial 57 optically coupling a block 16 to a photomultiplier 17 in thesame plane between two detectors have extensions of L-shaped material 57pointing upward and downward from the detector plane, a 3 detectorconfiguration of high packing density is obtained. This 3 detectorconfiguration may be repeated to form a complete array R. Thus, such aconfiguration of the scintillators 10 and photomultiplier tube 17permits a denser packing of detectors which, in turn, permits thedetection of a higher percentage of the primary photons having pathswhich are intercepted by the detector array R. Hence, more informationabout the radiation absorption by the object can be obtained for thesame initial radiation intensity.

IV. MOUNTING APPARATUS

In one suitable embodiment (FIGS. 7a and 7b) of the examining apparatusof the present invention, five sources S and five corresponding detectorarrays R located in containers 56 are rigidly mounted to a mountingapparatus M by conventional means so that the sources S and arrays R donot move relative to each other. The mounting apparatus M includes anouter pentagonal-shaped supporting ring 58 onto which the sources S andcorresponding detectors arrays R are mounted. Support members 60 areconnected at each end to other support members 60 to form thepentagonal-shaped supporting ring 58. The sources S are mounted at eachof the junctions of the support members 60 and a corresponding detectorarray R is mounted along the support member 60 opposite the junction onwhich a source S is mounted such that the planar swath of radiation fromsuch source is detected by detectors D in such array R. Each supportmember 60 has an outer surface 60a to which the container 56 containingthe detector array R is attached for mounting the container 56. Itshould be noted that the outer surface 60a is formed in the shape of anarc which fits into the arc 52 formed by the container so that eachdetector D in the array R is perpendicular to the paths P of primaryphotons coming from the source S opposite the detector.

One end of a supporting arm or strut 62 is connected to the supportingring 58 at each of the junctions between adjacent support members 60such that the other end of the strut 62 extends directly inward towardthe center of the pentagonal-shaped ring 58. The inner portion of eachof the struts 62 is connected to an inner circular ring 66 by suitablemeans. This circular ring has an inner edge 66a which defines a openingthrough which an object can be inserted for conducting an examination ofthe object. Preferably, the circular ring 66, in turn, is mounted on aring gear assembly 68 situated between the circular ring 66 and asupport plate 70 so that the circular ring 66, pentagonal-shapedsupporting ring 58, and the sources S and detector arrays R mounted onthe supporting ring 58 can be rotated relative to the support plate 70when the ring gear assembly 68 is operated by a suitable driving means.Such a rotational capability allows additional scans of the object withthe five sources at different mean angular positions, therebyeffectively increasing the information content obtainable using fivesources to that obtainable using a much greater number of sources S. Forexample, if the sources are rotated at 3 degree increments, theinformation content obtainable would be equivalent to have a scan using120 different sources. It should be understood, however, that adifferent number of sources S other than five may be mounted atintervals about the object on a similar mounting apparatus M adapted fora different number of sources. If a suitably large number of suchsources S are used, the rotating capability of the mounting apparatus Awill accordingly become less desirable. An odd number of sources S,algebraicly defined as 2N+1 sources, where N is any integer, ispreferred.

The support plate 70 has a opening formed therein having a circumferencedefined by the edge 70a which is slightly smaller than the apertureformed by the circular ring 66 so that the circular ring can be mountedwith the plate 70 for support. The support plate 70, in turn, isattached by suitable means to a shaft 72. The shaft 72 is mounted forrotational movement relative to the support frame 74 by connecting theends of the shaft 72 through suitable pins or ball-and-socket joints tohorizontal members 76 of the platform 74. In this manner, the mountingapparatus M can be tilted relative to the platform 74 to obtain scans atdifferent angular orientations relative to the plane in which the objectO is passed through the circular ring.

V. PROCESSING

As previously described, the scaler 50 in each detector D in an arraytransmits a digital signal representative of the number of primaryphotons detected during an exposure to the memory buffer B where suchsignals are temporarily stored for later transmission to the computer Cfor processing. Preferably, such signals from the detectors D within anarray are then transmitted in parallel along a CPU bus to the computer Cto decrease transmission time.

The computer or microprocessor C (FIG. 6) divides the output signal fromeach detector D in the array with a test signal generated by the samedetector D during a test run to obtain a signal representative of thefractional portion of the original radiation intensity which wastransmitted from the source S along one of the paths P to the detectorD. The natural logarithm of the fraction is then computed to determine asignal which represents the linear attenuation coefficient along thepath.

Pre-storage correction of the signal is then accomplished usingcorrection factors experimentally developed for the particular apparatusduring test runs without an object O in place. These correctionseliminate non-linearities in the signals. Such correction factors alsoeliminate errors resulting from the "beam hardening" which occurs whenX-ray radiation from X-ray tubes is used and from minor misalignments ofthe sources S and detectors arrays R. Errors caused by the responsefunction of the detectors D can also be eliminated at this stage. Thecorrected signals are then placed into computer storage until thecomputer receives digital signals from each of the arrays R for thescan. If multiple scans are taken, the digital signals for each scan arestored until the end of the examination. For some reconstructiontomographic techniques, each of the corrected signals in storage is thendivided by the number of representative elements along the pathassociated with such signals to determine a first estimate of thecoefficient of absorption of each of the elements. For example, thecomputer may be programmed according to the reconstructive tomographicmethod described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,614. Alternately, analyticreconstruction techniques such as those described in the article"Principles of Computer Assisted Tomography (CAT) in Radiographic andRadioisotopic Imaging" by Rodney A. Brooks and Giovani Di Chiropublished in Vol. 21, No. 5, of PHYSICAL MEDICAL BIOLOGY at pages689-732 (1976) may be used by programming the computer in accordancewith such principles.

Preferably, the computer is programmed to employ a RADON-based analyticreconstruction technique, such as those based on the Fourier orConvolution reconstruction theorems, to form a first estimate of thelinear attenuation coefficient of each pixel or element of the object,as described in the article mentioned above. Then iterativereconstruction techniques can be employed to refine the estimate toobtain a final estimate of the attenuation coefficient. Such acombination of techniques uses the advantages of analytic reconstructionmethods to reduce the computer time necessary to obtain a finalcoefficient of absorption for each element yet has the advantages of theaccuracy found in iterative techniques without the correspondingdisadvantage of enormous memory storage or slower computing time.

The matrix of coefficients corresponding to the matrix of elementsdefining the object is then processed by the computer to remove thoseportions of the coefficient estimates which are a result of thereconstruction algorithm artifacts, which are superimposed on the data.These artifacts are essentially due to the geometry of the scanningapparatus.

Preferably, conventional digital smoothing techniques may then beapplied to the data in order to make the resulting data more suitablefor visual display. It should be noted, however, that the accuracy ofthe visual representation of such digital techniques is better than theapplication of such digital smoothing techniques to data obtain fromoutput signals generated by current integration methods for the samedosage level. This is due to the superior statistical accuracy of theoutput signals obtained by using photon counting. The resulting modifiedmatrix of data may then be fed to a digital-to-analog converter T forconverting the data to analog signals for the purpose of visuallydisplaying the data on a cathode ray tube or other display apparatus.Alternately, the corrected data may be stored on tape for later use.

VI. OPERATION

In the operation of the examining apparatus of the present invention,the apparatus is initially calibrated by operating the apparatus duringtest runs without inserting an object into the object aperture. Next, anobject, such as a human body, is inserted horizontally into the objectaperture. Each of the sources S are then sequentially pulsed on by thecontrol circuit 2 for a predetermined time, 100 milliseconds forexample, so that a planar section of the object is erradicated by setsof rays disposed at different mean angular positions. The time betweenpulses may be less than 1 millisecond so that a scan at the particularangular orientation of the sources can be accomplished more quickly thanmoving a source around the object.

The scalers 50 of the detector array R associated with a source isactivated after a very short delay in order that the detector arraycounts only photons reaching the scintillators 10 from the activatedsource opposite it. The output signal from the scaler are thentransmitted to the memory buffer B and subsequently to the computer Cwhere the signals are corrected as hereinabove described and thenstored.

After each of the sources S are pulsed to obtain a scan of the object,the mounting apparatus M may be rotated so that the sources S transmitsat a different set of mean angular positions. The number of such scansof a given planar section, of course, will depend on the particularapplication in which the examining apparatus is employed. If desired,the mounting apparatus M may be tilted relative to the body to obtainscans of different planar sections which intersect.

The body may then be further inserted through the object aperture andmultiple scans taken of a planar section adjacent to the first planarsection scanned. Again, the mounting apparatus A may be tilted to obtainscans of another set of planar sections which intersect.

After the desired number of scans is taken of the object, the correctedoutput signals stored in the computer C are processed using a suitablereconstruction technique to obtain the attenuation coefficient of eachof the matrix elements into which the body is divided. Such computerattenuation coefficients is then used to reconstruct an image of theobject which may be visually displayed or stored on magnetic tape forlater use.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Radiographic apparatus for determining theintensity of penetrating radiation passing through an object as aplurality of penetrating ray photons along a plurality of respectivepaths from a radiation source; comprising:(a) high-speed scintillatormeans having a very fast decay time for detecting the plurality ofpenetrating ray photons passing through the object along one of theplurality of paths and converting the energy of the penetrating rayphotons into a plurality of light photons within a sufficiently shorttime interval after detection such that substantially all light photonsassociated with each detected penetrating ray photon are generatedwithin different time intervals; (b) photomultiplier means opticallycoupled to said scintillator means for detecting the light photonsassociated with each penetrating ray photon detected and generating asignal for each plurality of light photons associated with a penetratingray photon detected; and (c) counting means for counting the signalsgenerated by said photomultiplier means and generating output signalsrepresentative of the number of penetrating ray photons detected.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein:said scintillator means has a wall liningabsorbent of penetrating ray photons so as to be self-collimating. 3.The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:(a) a portion of the penetrating rayphotons transmitted from said radiation source is deflected by theobject from its initial path to form secondary photons of penetratingradiation; (b) the photons transmitted through the object along theplurality of paths are primary photons; and (c) said scintillator meanshas a longitudinal axis and detects primary and secondary photons whosepaths are within a small angular deviation from the longitudinal axis.4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:(a) said photomultiplier meansgenerates a primary signal for each primary photon detected and asecondary signal for each secondary photon detected; and (b) saidcounting means comprises:(1) discriminator means for discriminatingbetween primary and secondary signals received from said photomultipliermeans and generating event signals for each primary signal received; and(2) primary signal counter means for counting the number of eventsignals and generating output signals representative of the number ofprimary signals counted whereby the intensity of the penetratingradiation passing through the object along the path is determined.
 5. Amethod of detecting the intensity of penetrating radiation passingthrough an object as a plurality of penetrating ray photons along aplurality of paths comprising the steps of:(a) detecting individualpenetrating ray photons; (b) converting each individual penetrating rayphoton detected into a plurality of light photons within a sufficientlyshort time interval after detection such that substantially all lightphotons associated with the penetrating ray photons detected aregenerated within different time intervals; (c) detecting the pluralityof light photons generated by the conversion of each of said penetratingray photons; (d) generating a primary signal of each plurality of lightphotons detected; (e) counting the number of primary signals generated;and (f) generating an output signal representative of the number ofprimary signals generated whereby the intensity of the penetratingradiation is determined by counting the number of penetrating rayphotons detected.
 6. Radiographic apparatus for determining theintensity of penetrating radiation passing through an object as aplurality of penetrating ray photons along a plurality of respectivepaths from a radiation source; comprising:scintillator means fordetecting the plurality of penetrating ray photons passing through theobject along one of the plurality of paths wherein said scintillatormeans has a wall lining absorbent of penetrating ray photons so as to beself-collimating.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said scintillatormeans comprises:(a) a scintillator of a suitable geometric configurationfor collimating and detecting penetrating ray photons, said scintillatorhaving an entry surface through which penetrating ray photons enter saidscintillator, at least one lateral surface about said entry surface, anda longitudinal axis; (b) lining means disposed along said lateralsurface for absorbing penetrating ray photons entering said scintillatorwhose paths are at a substantial angular deviation from a path parallelto said longitudinal axis and which are not detected prior to the timesuch photons reach said lateral surface.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein:(a) said apparatus further comprises photomultiplier meansoptically coupled to said scintillator for detecting the light photonsassociated with each penetrating ray photon detected and generating asignal representative of the penetrating ray photons detected; and (b)said scintillator is configured to collimate and guide light photons. 9.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said scintillator means furthercomprises:reflector means disposed between said lining means and saidlateral surface of said scintillator for increasing the collimatingefficiency of said scintillator means whereby the light photonsgenerated by the detection of penetrating ray photons are collimated andefficiently guided a substantial distance to said photomultiplier means.10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:a second scintillatordisposed adjacent the lining means of said first scintillator such thatsaid lining means prevents penetrating ray photons which enter saidfirst scintillator from interacting with said second scintillator. 11.The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:(a) first photomultipliermeans optically coupled to said first scintillator for detecting thelight photons associated with each penetrating ray photon detected andgenerating a signal representative of the penetrating ray photonsdetected; (b) second photomultiplier means optically coupled to saidsecond scintillator for detecting the light photons associated with eachpenetrating ray photon detected and generating a signal representativeof the penetrating ray photons detected; and (c) wherein said adjacentfirst and second scintillators have different geometric configurationsso that said photomultiplier means optically coupled to saidscintillators are positioned in different planes, thereby allowing densepacking of said scintillator means regardless of the size of saidphotomultiplier means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:saidscintillator is composed of material suitable for producing sufficienttravel distance between entry of penetrating ray photons and detectionof said penetrating ray photons so that the photons entering saidscintillator whose paths are at a substantial angular deviation from apath parallel to said longitudinal axis are absorbed by said liningmeans before detection.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein saidscintillator comprises:scintillating plastic.
 14. The apparatus of claim7, wherein:the width of said entry surface is sized so thatsubstantially all of the penetrating ray photons detected pass throughsaid entry surface and have paths within a small angular deviation froma path parallel to said longitudinal axis.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein:the length of said scintillator is sufficiently long to allowphotons which have paths within a smaller angular deviation from a pathparallel to said longitudinal axis sufficient distance within saidscintillator to be detected.
 16. Apparatus for determining the intensityof penetrating ray photons passing through an object as a plurality ofpenetrating ray photons along a plurality of respective paths from aradiation source; comprising:(a) scintillator means for detecting thepenetrating ray photons and converting energy from penetrating rayphotons into light photons, said scintillator means comprising:(1)plastic scintillator of a suitable geometric configuration having anentry surface through which penetrating ray photons enter saidscintillator, and at least one lateral surface about said entry surfacewhich collimates both the penetrating ray photons and the light photonsand which guide the light photons; wherein(i) said scintillator having alongitudinal axis; (ii) the width of said entry surface is sized so thatsubstantially all of the penetrating ray photons detected pass throughsaid entry surface and have paths within a small angular deviation froma path parallel to said longitudinal axis; and (iii) the length of saidscintillator is sufficiently long to allow photons which have pathswithin a small angular deviation from a path parallel to saidlongitudinal axis a sufficient travel distance within said scintillatorto be detected; (2) lining means disposed along said lateral surface forabsorbing penetrating ray photons entering said scintillator whose pathsare at a substantial angular deviation from a path parallel to saidlongitudinal axis and which are not detected prior to the time suchphotons reach said lateral surface; (3) reflector means disposed betweensaid lining means and said lateral surface for increasing thecollimating efficiency and guiding efficiency of said scintillator meansfor light photons; and (b) means optically coupled to said scintillatormeans for detecting the light photons and generating a signalrepresentative of the penetrating ray detected.